Thought for the Day

If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight.

Darth Vader at Ivy League University

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, (Try and say that fast!)who's country is apparently - financially and through the provision of weapons - supporting Al-Queda in Iraq and elsewhere, and who's government is pursuing a nuclear program, visited the United Nations HQ in NY City yesterday. Afterwards he was invited to speak at Columbia University! Uh?

This caused quite a stir, since he is viewed as one of the US's foremost enemies in the fight against terrorism. Earlier he said that one day Islam will rule the world (Yes Pinky!) and that the holocaust is a myth. Nice guy...

The US Immigration Issue

Apart from the US military presence in Iraq, US Immigration Issues are the hotly debated topic that blazes throughout the country.
It is a simple issue that, over the past decade, have been alowed to escalate to monstrous proportions, an issue with many sides, and no clear right or wrong anymore. It seems that American citizens are on the losing end in the long run.

Which is why an article on France's new Immigration Laws, featured on the liberal-leaning CNN website caught my attention:
The new French law passed by Parliament tilts the system in favor of qualified workers and increases the restrictions for others. The new residency permit - called a "skills and talent-permit" - is only for foreigners possessing skills viewed by the French government as beneficial to their labor market and economy.
This is where it gets interesting - foreigners will only be allowed access if they can earn an income. (Medical Insurance and car insurance are the 2nd highest in the country here in Miami, wher ethe top half is carrying the bottom half.)

Furthermore, the law scraps the old rule where illegal immigrants can obtain permits if they have lived in France for 10 years or more. It will now be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by authorities. The government is threatening to deport school-going children to their countries of origin, because their parents are illegal immigrants.
(My immigration process has been ongoing for more than 2 years - legally. However, immigrants coming in illegally, are granted legal residency status. If an illegal is stopped by the police without a driver's license and required car insurance, they are not allowed to ticket, or arrest them.)

Approved immigrants will be forced to sign an "Integration Contract" committing them to respect the French way of life! Wow!!
Imagine that in Miami, where many who has lived here for decades, still cannot speak English, refuse to call themselves Americans, and have not integrated into the American culture, but often mocks it.

Everyone has Rights, says the Constitution. 'Tis true, but the focus is so much on these rights that the wellbeing of American citizens are left on the wayside. In Oregon, there is a new proposal before their Education Board that will allow children of immigrants to study the curriculum of their countries of origin - in the American public schools system!
"No, you don't have to study our American history, or English, just live here, and enjoy the free education and healthcare." Being fiercely patriotic, this wouldn't sit well with me. Lamsakke!

The new law has prompted hostile reaction from the liberal parties and the Catholic church in France. At least it can be said that the French government took a decisive stand and are not blinking in the inevitable face of criticism and at the chance of offending anyone.

Uit die Ou Dae!

Wie onthou hierdie poets deur Leon Schuster?

Boxing

The other night I'm watching boxing and the one guy receives quite a beating before being knocked out. What doesn't make sense to me is why they'd interview the poor guy after the fight? Really, what is he going to say? While trying to focus with his one open eye on the camera and trying not to drool from his swollen lip.

In the seventh round you were knocked down. What happened?
Uh, it's all a little hazy, but from what I can tell, the other gentleman was punching me in the face...

Holderstebolder

Ek teken apologie aan vir enigeen wat die moeite doen om ons Blog te besoek en niks nuut hier gevind het die afgelope week nie.

Dis mirrel-van-die-kwartaal-sindroom, vermoed ek. Ons is douvoordag op, word 'n tweede keer op kantoor wakker na die eerste koppie Kubaanse koffie (- en wonder hoe ek de vy ek daar gekom het!), is besig, middagete om 'n kontak te "kultiveer", neig moeg saans huistoe, spitsverkeer-gefrustreerd, honger, oefen, groet, kuier, kook, swot, en raak voor die TV aan die slaap op mekaar se skote, net om met 'n ruk wakker te word en te besef my rooibos is yskoud en Jay Lenno vertel grappe = 11:30-00:00!

Real life that happens in between the weekend and travel pics, I guess.
Sarah vors Meestersgrade na in die Noorde. Sy is Junie klaar met haar sewende skooljaar en ons vertrou dis dalk haar laaste as werknemer van die skoolsisteem.
Ek woon hierdie week 'n Nasionale Grants Writing werkswinkel by deur die Universiteit van Miami, vroeg tot laat, maar die materiaal hou my konsentrasie gevange. My huidige studie-blok is BestuursEtiek. 'n Tameletjie - nie die holistiese prinsiepe nie, wel die realistiese studiegevalle.

Nag ou grote.

The New England Rugby Jersey's

Sweet!

Zimbabwe beating World Champs Auz in the Twenty/Twenty World Cup = Priceless!
Zim played out of their skins, the Aussies looked rusty and history was made as the Africans wobbled to a tense, memorable five-wicket victory last night over the men from Down Under - the winning runs being hit off the penultimate ball of the innings.

Setanta's False Advertising

I previously Blogged that Setanta Sports, the sole broadband broadcaster of the Rugby World Cup in North-America, offers PPV (Pay per View), monthly and annual subscriptions to the WC games.
The annual subscription is outrageously expensive and the quality only so-so. But if you're like me, you enjoy rugby and after all, the RWC is only once every four years. So I signed up for the monthly subscription.
After you pay and log on, a new message appears, informing you that in fact, you - as a mere, lowly monthly subscriber - are only eligible to watch re-runs of last years Scottish Rugby League and some Irish Footbal re-runs. This is the same company who's front page is splashed with RWC feautures - "If you sign up now..."

Turns out you actually need to sign up for the annual subscription to see any rugby.

Of course I immediately cancelled my subscription. It seems that I'm not the first frustrated customer who's been fooled by their clever tactics. This is the automated message that appears when you write to the Helpdesk (There is, of course, no number to call):
"The world cup games are available live either as part of the Annual subscription or individually in the PPV event list. They are not however included as part of the monthly subscription.
We are more than happy to cancel and refund your monthly subscription under the circumstances – please let us know if you’d like this done."

Not a company I'd support.

A Trip to Kennedy Space Center

The Long Wait is Over

The 2007 Rugby World Cup kicks off tomorrow with the opening game between hosts France and Argentina in the Stade de France. Arguably the highlight of my week, as a foreigner in a strange land where live rugby matches is as scarce as a politician without a private agenda in Washington D.C.

"Kinderlik opgewonde", or just plain excited am I on this day.
This causes a certain dilemma, for even though my host country has send a team to France, most Americans don't know what rugby is. (The thousands of Argentinians in Miami does, but they don't speak English and I only do a leetle Spanish, entiendo?) This is ironic in a sense, seeing as the last time that rugby was offered as an Olympic sport in the early part of the last century, the US took gold. Yes, they're the reigning Olympic Rugby Champions.

Baseball and Football are kings of the Sports channels. The US Open tennis tournament is currently underway at Flushing Meadow, NY. Last night the last two Americans left in the draw played in two seperate quarter-finals. Yet, these matches were not shown on regular TV, ultimate fighting, was. And baseball, in the two sports bars I went looking for coverage.

Fortunately Sentanta Sports (http://www.setanta.com/) announced today that they will stream live coverage of all 48 games of the World Cup to the seven rugby enthusiasts across North-America, as the exclusive online broadcaster. The company operates the only European sport channel in North-America.
The fee-based ticket pass is not too shabby either, costing only $14.99 for the full month of international rugby, live and on demand.

In ensuing posts, I'll write a short explanation of the game of rugby - to the benefit of my North-American friends - explaining things like why the wings tend to be the most handsome players on the field, how to cook your wings in a nice spicy Masala sauce, why prop forwards suffer from NNS, or no-neck-syndrome and much more.

About Labor Day and Florida's Space Coast

Since Monday was Labor Day, we packed our car and headed to Central Florida's forests to go exploring. We visited a few small towns and some magnificent springs. On the way back we stopped for a day at the Kennedy Space Center. Ahohaaa! Had a great time. Will be posting some pics soon.